Beyond the Pale with Cormac Lucey and David Quinn

Episodes

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  Insiders vs Outsiders: the Public Sector Pay Dispute 14.10.2026 47m

  In this week's episode of Beyond the Pale, Cormac Lucey and David Quinn discuss the public sector pay dispute. They ask whether RTE deserves to have its funding increased, and if the station is biased? They talk about how Iran war is helping to drive the cost of living crisis and Donald Trump's role in this. Finally, they discuss a huge row between EU member-states over the next EU budget and Ireland's part in the row.
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  Why Santa is bad and Scrooge is good. 07.10.2026 45m

  In this week's edition of 'Beyond the Pale', Cormac Lucey and David Quinn discuss the budget and how every every politician wants to be Santa and no-one wants to be Scrooge. They explain why Social Democracy is the default position of Irish politics, and that one day we will need a 'Scrooge' who is willing to rein in public spending. Charlie Haughey emerges as an unexpected hero. 00:00 Introduction and overview of Irish social and political certainties02:02 Ireland's historical cycles of economic optimism and crisis03:58 The flawed nature of Ireland's budget expectations and revenue assumptions08:08 Public pension liabilities and accounting practices12:00 Demographic challenges and aging population in Ireland17:05 The cost of public spending and taxation in Ireland21:58 Ireland's political consensus and social democratic tendencies26:05 Management and accountability issues in Irish government30:01 The influence of European and American politics on Ireland35:51 Potential future bond market crises and fiscal risks